Rob Manthei
12-28-2011, 01:50 PM
Lake conditions have strongly improved. Ice thickness range from 8 to 12 inches all over the county. Some guys are driving on the lakes, but I would still advise a couple more inches before that. However, Trout Lake was still open on the south end, out in the middle as of Monday. The shoreline ice on the south end was sketchy too.
Walleye bite has been ok in the morning at first light, but much better towards evening. Shiners and suckers under tip ups are always a safe best, but Buckshot Rattle Spoons with a piece of fathead and Jigging Rapalas are working great on more aggressive fish.
Pike are all over the weed edges and flats, and also trophy fish are cruising the deep edges near mud....a couple of fish over 36" were reported yesterday in 25' of water. Slow bites, but super quality fish.
Panfish are biting, but the average size is pretty small. Catches of 50 to 70 fish to find 15 eaters is pretty common....gosh, what a reduced bag limit and size limit on some of our best panfish lakes could do for the future.
Good Luck to all!
Walleye bite has been ok in the morning at first light, but much better towards evening. Shiners and suckers under tip ups are always a safe best, but Buckshot Rattle Spoons with a piece of fathead and Jigging Rapalas are working great on more aggressive fish.
Pike are all over the weed edges and flats, and also trophy fish are cruising the deep edges near mud....a couple of fish over 36" were reported yesterday in 25' of water. Slow bites, but super quality fish.
Panfish are biting, but the average size is pretty small. Catches of 50 to 70 fish to find 15 eaters is pretty common....gosh, what a reduced bag limit and size limit on some of our best panfish lakes could do for the future.
Good Luck to all!